“Oh, it’s safe enough, if you don’t wander in too far,” the real estate man replied with a shrug. “My order doesn’t apply to you folks. If you want to see the cave, you can go down there any time.”
“I don’t believe I’d care to explore,” Ardeth said with a shiver. “Not after learning that a man died in the cave.”
“Bart told you about that, I suppose?” Mr. Krumm questioned sarcastically.
“Isn’t it true?”
“Bart didn’t tell you why the man lost his life,” Mr. Krumm said, without answering the inquiry. “No, he just filled you up with a lot of nonsense about a White Witch.”
“She doesn’t really cast a spell over the cottage?” Judy asked mischievously.
Mr. Krumm’s normally florid face became even redder. He sucked in his breath, moistened his lips, and then launched into another vehement denial that anything was wrong with Calico Cottage.
“I’m sick of all this gossipy talk!” he ended his tirade. “I’m sick of losing tenants! I’m so weary of it, that I’m willing to pay good money to disprove all the contemptible stories.”
The Scouts remained respectfully silent.
“Bart has convinced you, I suppose, that you should move out,” Mr. Krumm went on. Without giving anyone an opportunity to deny the statement, he continued: “All right, suppose I admit that former tenants have complained about the cottage having strange noises at night? There must be an explanation for it—a logical, sensible one.”